The Telugu film industry has had a strange trend for the last few years. Films that turn out to be flops and even disasters are celebrated with success meets. Some makers go a step further, calling their films the biggest hit, historic and epic blockbuster despite poor audience response.
The question is simple. If the makers themselves know their films have failed, why do they keep holding these events and projecting an image of success?
There are three major commercial reasons behind this practice.
The first is OTT and corporate deals. Streaming platforms and other business partners commit huge amounts to acquire films. If a movie performs badly in theatres, its makers may fear that the failure could affect ongoing negotiations or future deals. Projecting success through public events and positive statements can help them maintain the appearance of a valuable product. Whether it can actually protect an existing deal depends on the terms of the agreement.
The second reason is to attract weekend audiences. The first few days are crucial for a film’s theatrical run. By calling a film a blockbuster and organizing a success meet, makers try to create positive buzz and convince undecided viewers that the film is worth watching. The idea is to trigger FOMO, making people feel they might miss out if they do not watch it in theatres. This can be especially important before negative word of mouth spreads further.
The third reason is the hero’s market value. A major box office failure can affect an actor’s bargaining power, remuneration, and the kind of projects producers are willing to offer. Nobody wants a flop to become the dominant talking point around a star. Fake celebrations can help create an alternative narrative, at least temporarily.
But this strategy is backfiring these days and is becoming a joke. Audiences are no longer dependent only on promotional events to judge a film. Social media, reviews, and box office reports expose the gap between claims and reality.
A success meet or a PR drive cannot turn a flop into a hit. At best, it can do some damage control till the weekend, but nowadays, that is also rare. When the numbers and audience response tell a different story, exaggerated celebrations only damage the credibility of the makers and the industry.
